The head of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Lisa Jackson, has announced this week that she will step down from her position. The move comes after Jackson has fought hard against Washington politicians and lobbyists.

Jackson fought significant pushback from Republican lawmakers opposed to her efforts to fight climate change reports Reuters. She was also brought in front of Congress for multiple hearings during her tenure, and even fought dissension within the EPA.

President Obama thanked Jackson for her service and praised her work on several causes including assistance in setting up new fuel economy standards in the United States.

"Under her leadership, the EPA has taken sensible and important steps to protect the air we breathe and the water we drink," Obama said in a statement.

Jackson said in a statement she was "confident the (EPA) ship is sailing in the right direction."

Jackson is expected to step down from her cabinet position after President Obama delivers his State of the Union address in early 2013.

I hardly think it's a appropriate to say she fought lobbyists. Ethanol is a lobbyist's wet dream. Instead of getting rid of it, as someone who fights lobbyists would do, she allowed the 15% blend to be approved which will increase vehicle waste and consumption of gasoline. On both counts the accomplishments are exactly opposite of good environmental protection.